PD-L1 Expression Is a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Thoracic Esophageal Cancer Treated Without Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:

Programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) induces apoptosis of tumor-reactive T-cells, that enables tumors to evade immune defense and thus furthers their growth. Our aim was to determine whether PD-L1 expression status correlates with prognosis in patients with advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The PD-L1 expression status of 177 patients treated with esophagectomy without preoperative therapy was evaluated immunohistochemically using tissue microarray. We then statistically analyzed the relationships between PD-L1 expression status and clinicopathological features and survival.

RESULTS:

In patients undergoing surgery alone, PD-L1 expression was significantly positivity associated with a better prognosis. By contrast, there were no significant correlations between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological features or outcomes in patients treated with surgery plus postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION:

PD-L1 positivity in advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma may be predictive of a positive prognosis in patients treated without adjuvant chemotherapy.

• Authors: Akiyuki Wakita, Satoru Motoyama, Hiroshi Nanjo, Yusuke Sato, Kei Yoshino, Tomohiko Sasaki, Yuta Kawakita, Jiajia Liu, Kazuhiro Imai, Hajime Saito, Yoshihiro Minamiya
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 37 Issue 3 Pg. 1433-1441 (03 2017) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 28314315 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• B7-H1 Antigen
• CD274 protein, human

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• B7-H1 Antigen (genetics)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (diagnosis, genetics)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant (methods)
• Cohort Studies
• Esophageal Neoplasms (diagnosis, genetics)
• Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Esophagectomy
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunochemistry
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Period
• Prognosis
• Regression Analysis
• Thoracic Neoplasms (diagnosis, genetics)
• Tissue Array Analysis